WING"TIPS" #27 straightening pheasant tails

[birdgirl]

I was wondering if you do your turkey tails in a similiar manner? I don't like to wash those either if I don't have to.

[wingman]

Birdgirl Absolutely !

[thestuffedbird]

Here is a link for detached tails.

http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php/topic,32426.0.html

Neil

[thestuffedbird]

Here is another.

http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php/topic,50977.0.html

Neil

[thestuffedbird]

Here is how I do pheasant tails for mounts.  Very strong.  I remove the tail by cutting the skin at the base.  I then strip each feather base of all fat, meat and skin.  You end up with a pile of feathers.  Lay them out on a table top in the proper sequence which is not hard for pheasants as every feather is unique in the tail as far as it's placement.  Get a good fan and spacing.  All of the feather bases should form a half circle and be touching.  Then squeeze out hot glue over the feather bases to form a pool on the table top that covers the feather bases.  Let this dry, then pop it off the table top with a butter knife or other instrument.  Flip the tail over, and add some more hot glue to the other side.  These feathers aren't going anywhere.  You can mount them on a plaque or put them on a form by cutting out a notch in the form to fit the glue plug.  If you are putting them on a mounted bird, place the tail after the skin is in place and heat a couple of T pins to drive through the glue plug and into the form.  Bring the rump skin into place and voila.

Hope this helps.

Neil

[mimes]

A long time ago in the old forum I have posted pretty much the same tip/method for the tail pin on pintail ducks. THey can get bent or horse shoed in the freezer. Hot water fixes em up in a sec. Also, for the turkey tails, any feather tips that do not want to zip back together, mist with water and then run quickly through an electric hair curler.

[cast_n_blast]

Thanks for the great advice, I am starting a couple of pheasants tomarrrow with bent tails, I have always washed the tails and then tried to straiten them out with wire and tape.  This will really help.

[Schmitty]

I love the wingtips.  Great advise

[Roger L.]

Thanks for the links to the WING"TIPS" pearls of wisdom. I'm just gitting started. I'm doing it by myself and I have found this site most valuble. I will get even more from it once I learn the lingo. Keep'em coming Wingman.

[Lazar]

Hi Wingman! I'm new in taxidermy..i live in contry were taxidermy is strange... Please can you tell me metod to mounting tail? I want to prepare just a birds,and small mamals.. Thank u.. 

[bucknduck]

Excellent suggestion.  I'll give it a try next pheasant I do.

[Lazar]

Ok.. Thank you.. 

[Troy Rose]

A steamer does wonders...you can literally watch the tail feathers straighten out before your eyes...kinda cool.  Good Luck!!!